Ped fans, we love winter, we really do, but this year’s was so llllloooooonnnnggg  that we have been chomping at the bit to peel off our socks and let our toes out to play! Spring fever is raging at Ped HQ!

It’s finally time to pick out a pair (or two) of breezy sandals and dance in the sun! Ped has so many dandy designs to choose from this season that we’ve decided to offer a three-post “tasting menu” over the next several days. Today, we sample flats (or nearly so) that will give you high style while keeping you grounded in comfort.

A sandal ready to slide into and go, that’s what we crave in summer! Cliff Dweller’s Athlete is just the thing:

Super easy, super comfortable, and super stylish—the Athlete hits the sandal trifecta! The berry color pictured is so juicy, but the Athlete is also a winner in biscotti brown. (Berry and biscotti? I’m suddenly like a snack…)

For those of you who prefer the security of a back strap and the stability of a toe ring , Cydwoq’s Train could be just the ticket:

Edgy, chic, and interesting, it’s as if a gladiator sandal went to art school! Plus the black leather with its blue variegation is to. die. for.

Fiorentini + Baker offers another modern variation on the gladiator sandal with the gorgeous Jeb:

Words cannot describe how lusciously soft and lightweight this sandal’s perforated skived leather is! Whether you opt for the mouse color shown or classic black, jaws will drop when you walk by in the Jeb.

Pep Monjo also knows how to make the most of a bold buckle strap, as he demonstrates with the knockout Angelina:

Practical? Yes! Gorgeous? YES! The Angelina embodies everything we’ve come to expect from Pep: luxe leather, signature details like the lipped collar in back, and style for miles! You can’t go wrong with a black leather sandal, but then again, you can’t go wrong with the Angelina in flint suede either. Win, win!

Just because a flat keeps your feet on the ground, doesn’t mean it can’t get a little high with funky fun. Case in point: the Trippen Eye!

Broad bands of metallic blue leather form the front, as a leather thong laces through two over-sized metal eyes to form the back strap and crisscross wrapping rising up your ankle! Too cool for school!

Looking for something a little dressier but still heelless? The Cydwoq Laser is ready to shine:

The metallic green leather is fresh and flirty, and the ankle-strapped minimal design is super sexy, so all we can say is, “Bring on the cocktails!”

Of course, if you really want to go girly, Chie Mihara is your best friend! Chie’s Izan proves you don’t need a high heel to be a femme fatale:

Five tiers of leather ruffles over the toe call to mind the swish of Spanish flamenco dresses., and the neutral camel color guarantees the Izan will dance with everything in your closet!

Ped fans, we’ve barely scratched the surface of the vast array of PHAT flat sandals ready to take on summer at Ped’s main site! Word to the fashion wise: flat is where it’s at!

(Unless, of course, you like a heel, in which case stay tuned for “Sandals for sunny days” Parts 2 & 3!)

What we like about 21st century fashion is how open-ended it is! Just as hemlines have become wonderfully variable, boot heights are now left up to the whimsy of the wearer. Whether you like over-the-knee sexiness, mid-calf chic, or ankle-high edge, you’ll always be in style!

That said, Ped fans, we hold a special place in our hearts for booties. They’re just so fun and versatile—great with skirts and easy to wear with pants (no wrestling to get them over or under the fabric)!

This season our harvest of sweet-and-low ankle boots is especially bountiful! There are are so many juicy designs that it’s hard to know where to begin. Here’s just a taste of Ped’s bootie buffet:

Pep Monjo is best known as the genius behind Argila, but a couple years ago he started his own eponymous line. Since then, every single Pep Monjo style has become an instant classic. We are WILD (wild, I tell you) about his new Cora bootie:

The leather is so luscious, and the details are exquisitely thought-out, like the simple perforations arcing over the toe and heel. Buckle us up!

Of course, Mr. Monjo still works his magic for Argila, too, as evidenced by the gorgeous Granada:

Modern and curvy, this wood-heeled bootie takes the lace-up into chic new territory! Spanish style for miles!

Speaking of wooden heels, the one supporting Coclico’s Norma boot is particularly lovely:

The lines of the dark wood have subtle arcs that reflect the clean yet dramatic lines of the black leather upper! Plus, the .75″ platform under the toe offsets the 3″ heel to make the pitch a walkable 2.25″.

Looking for a lower heel but heightened feminine wiles? The Cydwoq Knee  is guaranteed to bring ’em to their knees:

The paisley burnt-out leather is stunning up front, and the corset-like closure is beyond sexy in back! Holy hot sauce, talk about a femme fatale!

A little less girly but no less charming, another ankle boot “with back” is Cydwoq’s Cleo:

This beauty is handmade in Burbank, CA, but it radiates European street chic! The leaf-shaped strap across the back offers function in stellar form and offers people behind you something to see!

Want a zing of color for your ankles? Cydwoq’s got just the thing: the Beacon bootie!

A dash of red adds zest to any day! The wonderful-to-wear Beacon, with its comfy round toe, is one of our big-time faves this season!

Trippen also does some dazzling things with color. Feast your eyes on the new Liverpool:

A fusion of a retro 60’s rock ‘n’ roll boot with a modern-day Aussie pull-on, the lightweight Liverpool, with its brilliant purple elastic sides, may put you in mind of the Fab Four as you dash down the street looking fabulous!

As we said, these are just few tasty morsels from the wide-ranging menu of delicious booties at Ped’s main site! While you do the walking, let your ankle boots do the  stylish talking!

(Psst, this week’s Sweet Treat, the Cydwoq Marmot, falls into “shootie” territory—a little more than a shoe, a little less than a boot, but just right for everyday wear! We love it! Just click “be sweet to your feet” at the bottom of the box on the left of most Ped pages to land at the Marmot with the special code that will bring 20% off at checkout!)

Ped fans probably don’t need this flow chart, but just in case:

It made us laugh, so we had to share!